Tent frame



June 24, 1924. 1,499,019

N. W. KLINE TENT FRAME Filed DeC. 31 i921 Patented June 24, 1924.

UNIE!) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TENT FRAME.

Application filed December 31, 1921. Serial Nb. 526,145.

T0 all whom 'it may concern:

Be it .known that I, NICK 1V. KLINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Tent Frame, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a frame for tents and particularly pertains to a structure for forming a tent or canopy for camping purposes.

It is the object of this invention to provide a frame for supporting a covering of canvas or similar` material which is adapted to be knoclred-down and packedinto a compact bundle .suitable for carrying, andl which when erected will be so tied and braced as to require no stakes or guys.'v Y

Another object is to provide a frame of the above character which may be easily and quickly set up and taken down.

Another object is to provide an interconnection between an upright corner post, a horizontal plate, and an end member whereby the post and plate are hinged together and the end member interloclred therewith, which is especially applicable for use as a tent frame for tents either of the gable or lean-to types. Y

Vith the foregoing objects in view together with such other objects as may subsequently appear the invention consists in the parts and combination, arrangement and construction of parts as hereinafterxmore fully described and claimed .and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which.

Fig. lis a perspective view of the tent frame, as adapted for forming a gableA tent, showing it as set up in readiness to receive a covering. Y

Fig. 2 is a detail in elevation of the peak portion of the gable end member as seen in the direction indicated by the arrow 2 in Fig. l.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the peak portion of the gable member;

Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of the end portion of the ridge pole;

Fig. 5 is a detail in side elevation showing the manner of assembling the corner post, horizontal plate, end member, and the ridge ole;

p Fig. 6 is a view showing the assemblage inend elevation; Y

Fig. 7 is a detail in construction showing the manner of connecting the corner post to the plate and to the end member;

Fig. 8 is a similar View showing the parts as disassembled;

Fig. 9 is a view showing the manner of folding the gable member;

Fig. 10 is a view showing the manner of folding the corner post and plate member;

Fig. 11 is a detail in section as seen on line 11 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 12 is a perspective View showing the frame as adapted to form a tent of the leanto type.

More specifically 11 indicates the plate members, two of which are. provided, and hinged on the outer ends of each plate member is a corner post 12. The hinged connection between the post and plate embodies a leaf 13 secured to the post and aleaf 14 fastened on the under side of the'plate, the leaves being formed with lugs pivotally connectedtogether by a pivot pin 15 as is common in hinge construction. The leaf 111 is formed with an extension 16, which is offset into the under side of the plate 11 and is downturned at its outer end to form a flange 17, the outer face of which flange extends approximately flush with the end of the plate. The ange forms a channel 18 transversely of the under side of the plate for' the purpose hereinafter specified. The post is hingedly connected ,tothe plate to swing longitudinally yof the latter and to extend substantially parallel therewith when folded, as shown in Fig. 10; the hinge connection being set back from the end of the plate so that when the post is swung to extend at right angles to the plate the extension 16 will project over and seat on the upper end of the post.

A pair of gables 19 are provided, each 'of which consists of two gable members 20-21 connected together by a hinge 22 arranged on theunder side of the gable members so that the latter may be folded to eX- tend along side each other as shown in Fig. 9 or to be extended at a suitable angle to form a gable.

Mounted on the outer end of each of the gable members 20-21 is a plate 23 having an end projection 24 adapted to be engaged in the channel 18 andformed ,on the under side ofthe plate 23 is a downwardly projecting pin 25 adapted to project into a socket 26 termed in a bracket 27 carried on the inner periphery of the corner post l2 to form a tie whereby the upper portions of the corner posts connecting 7ith a gable will be held against spreading.

A ridge pole 28 is provided each end oi. which is litted with a hook Q9 adapted to be connected to a plate 30 mounted on the inner Yface ot the gable end member, the plate 30 being carried on one gable end membei` and having an extended bracket portion bent outwardly and inwardly to Yform a 'channel 3l on the inner tace of the gable near the peak thereof when the gable members are in their open position as shown in Fig. 3.

As a means for bracing the gable end members a pair ot brace rods 32-33 are provided which rods are pivotally connected to the gable end members and are connected together by a rule joint 34; the brace rods being adapted to extend in alignment as shown in Figs. l and 6 when the gable membersare spread and may be folded as shown in Fig. 9.

A brace rod 35 is pivoted on the corner post l2 and has its outer end bent at a right angle to form a hook 36 adapted to be engaged with an eye 37 on the gable end member; this rod serving to brace the corners of the' structure laterally.

As a means for holding the brace rod against disengagement from the eye, a guard plate 38 is pivoted on the side of the gable end member; and adaptedy to. be positioned to extend over the rod Where the latter is hooked into theeye 37 to prevent the hook 36 from being accidently disengaged from the eye.

A pair of brace rods 39 and 40 are pivoted on the plate and post as shown in Fig. 5 and are connected together by a rule joint '41; the brace rods 39 and i0 being adapted to extend in alignment to brace the structure longitudinally and adapted to be folded, as shown in Fig. 10.

In assembling the frame the gable members are spread and the ridge pole set in place to connect the gables. The posts are then disposed in a nearly open position as shown in Fig. 8, and the projections 2li on the ends ot the gable members are inserted `in the channels 18, `whereupon the posts are .swung to their full openposition so that the projection 24 Will seat on the upper end of the post With the pin 25 engaging the socket 26 on the bracket 2T, thus interlockingthe ends of the gable member With the post and plate. On connecting the brace rod 35 to the gable member and opening the brace rods 39-40 the structure Will be .substantially tied and supported. A covery of canvas or other suitable material may then be placed over the frame thus forming a tent of the square type. The structure thus formed being rigidly braced the use of guy Wires or ropes and stakes is unnecessary.

Vhen the frame is knocked down the gable members may be folded together as shown in Fig. 9 and the corner posts and plates folded together as shown in Fig. 10 and With the ridge pole may be tied together in any suitable manner, being preferably Wrapped in the canvas covering, thus forming a substantially cylindrical bundle Which may be readily transported. lihere the frame is adapted to be used in forming a tent of the lean-to variety, the gable members are dispensed with and straight end members 42 are employed, the ends ot which are provided with the projections 24 and the pinsQ in the same manner as explained in reference to the gable members. The plates in this instance Would be 'formed so as to extend at an inclination relative to the posts, Which When the covering is put in place willA provide a sloping roof.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction shoWn but may employ such moditications and changes in construction as come Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a Joldable tent frame, a plate member, a post hinged to said plate member adapted to be positioned to have its hinged end abut against the under side ot the plate member, an end member, a projection on said end member adapted to extend between the end of the post and the plate, and means for effecting a pin and socket connection between said end member and post.

2. In a- Joldable tent frame, a corner post, a bracket on the inner tace ot said post, an end member, a projection on said end member adapted to seat on said post, means for detachably connecting the end member to said bracket, a plate member. hinged on said post having a projecting end portion adapt* ed When the plate member is extended at right angles to the post to extend over the Yprojection on the end member.

3. In a Joldable tent frame, a corner post,

a bracket on said post having a socket,A an end member, a projection on said end member adapted to seat on said post, a pin on said end member adapted to detachably engage the socket in said bracket, and a plate member hinged on said post having a projecting end portion adapted when the vplate member is extended at right angles to the post to extend over the projection on the end member. n

4. In a foldable tent frame, a corner post, a bracket on the inner tace of said post having a socket, an end member, a projection on said end member adapted to seat on said post, a pin on said end member adapted to detachably engage the socket in said bracket, and a plate member hinged on said post having a projecting end portion adapted When the plate member is extended at right angles to the post to extend over the projection on the end member, a brace rod connecting the end member to the post, and a brace rod connecting the plate member to the post.

5. In a oldable tent frame, a post, a side plate member, a hinge having one leaf secured to the post and the other leaf attached to the plate member, a projection on the leaf attached to the plate member adapted to exn tend over the end of the post having a downturned end ange, and an end member hav- 15 ing a projection adapted to seat on the end of the post beneath the projection on the leaf and to be engaged by the flange.

6. In a oldable tent frame, a pair of hingedly connected gable members, a plate 20 on one of the gable members having a bracket portion adapted to extend across the joint between said gable members forming a channel, a ridge pole, and a hook on the end of the ridge pole adapted to be engaged with 25 the channel formed by said bracket member.

NICK W. KLINE. 

